Police appeal for help to identify man found dead in skip

The Whinney Hill Road recycling centre where a body believed to be from Burnley has been discovered. A120911/1a

Published:14:16Monday 12 September 2011

POLICE are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man whose body was found at a landfill site this morning.

An investigation is underway following the discovery in Whinney Hill Road, Accrington, around 8-50 a.m. and officers are carrying out an examination of the scene.

Police are also examining a waste disposal site in Widow Hill Road, Burnley, as part of the same investigation.

At this stage, the man’s death is being treated as unexplained. Police have yet to identify the body, which is that of a white man, possibly aged 30 to 50.

A post mortem examination to establish the cause of death is to be carried out this afternoon.

Detective Superintendent Neil Esseen, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are still in the early stages of this investigation, but we are already following up a number of lines of inquiry.

“However, our main priority at the minute is to identify this man. If anybody is missing a friend or relative or has information as to who this man could be then we would be very keen to hear from them.

“I would also like to speak with anybody who may have noticed any recent suspicious activity near the waste disposal site in Widow Hill Road, Burnley, or indeed the landfill site in Whinney Hill Road, Accrington.

“The smallest amount of information could allow us to progress this investigation and I urge people to come forward.”

Anybody with any information is asked to call police on 08451 25 35 45 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.